AvatarLabs Introduces Innovation Department and Promotes Creative Leadership from Within

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Los Angeles-Based Full Service Digital Creative Agency Ups Longtime Team Members Bill Hargis, Benjoseph Manibog and James Safechuck to Key Creative Positions and Introduces an Innovation Department

AvatarLabs

AvatarLabs was founded on a spirit of playfulness, ingenuity, and a passion for experimentation. As a creative agency, it’s people and ideas like these that make our work so fun, exciting and groundbreaking.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB)August 03, 2016

AvatarLabs, the award-winning, full-service digital agency that leads in innovation, design and technology for Fortune 500 corporate brands and the world’s top entertainment companies today announced the promotions of Bill Hargis, Benjoseph Manibog and James Safechuck; as well as the formation of an Innovation Department that pinpoints emerging technologies and experiments with creative ways to bring interaction and storytelling to digital audiences.

Bill Hargis has been promoted to Creative Director, the second person to be internally promoted into this position in the company’s more than 15-year history. Bill joined the AvatarLabs team more than six years ago, quickly becoming an influential leader and positive cultural influence on the creative team. During his tenure, Bill has focused on delivering stellar creative and building strong relationships with both clients and internal teams. Prior to his work with AvatarLabs, Bill served as Senior Designer in the creative services department at Variety Magazine, and as Art Director at a boutique entertainment industry advertising agency. In his new position, Bill will be responsible for campaign leadership, building client partnerships and continuing to nurture the growth of the creative team. Bill holds a BA in Media Arts and Design from Northeastern University.

Additionally, Benjoseph Manibog has been promoted to Senior Art Director. Benjoseph has been a pivotal member of the AvatarLabs team for the past eight years. With his strong passion for innovation and hands-on crafting, Benjoseph’s creative spirit drives those around him to be experimental and playful. He is lauded not only for his natural artistic talent, but his ability to incorporate many different mediums into his work - from photography and video to digital 3D and physical sculpture. He brings the “art school spirit” to everything he does, translating his expertise into award-winning campaigns. As Senior Art Director, Benjoseph will lead by example, helping boost the innovation of the creative department. Benjoseph’s early background found him pursuing a pre-med path at UCLA before giving into his true talent and passion in art.

Finally, James Safechuck, a core member of the AvatarLabs creative team for over a decade, has been promoted to Director of Innovation and head of the newly formalized Innovation Department. His career at the company began in creative as a motion graphics designer and animator, then he quickly transitioned to executing digital storytelling from concept through completion as a developer and software engineer. Working on front and back-end tech on various platforms, James built an impressive portfolio of work that showcased an ability to develop complex experiences incorporating new technologies, working hand in hand with UX, UI and design teams.

“I’m exceptionally proud of the formalization of the innovation department and the promotions of these invaluable team members, both of which help keep AvatarLabs at the forefront of new and emerging media and as a powerhouse of creative execution in the business,” said Rex Cook, CEO of AvatarLabs. “AvatarLabs was founded on a spirit of playfulness, ingenuity, and a passion for experimentation. As a creative agency, it’s people and ideas like these that make our work so fun, exciting and groundbreaking.”

All three team members have been instrumental in crafting AvatarLabs' experiential 360° videos and first to market Snapchat experiences, along with recent client campaign successes including The Walking Dead, The Jungle Book, Stranger Things, Star Trek Beyond, Daredevil and The Hunger Games franchise, in addition to overseeing the creative inspiration, vision and execution of hundreds of award-winning interactive marketing campaigns.

About AvatarLabs
AvatarLabs is an award-winning, full-service digital agency founded in 2001 that leads in innovation, design and technology for Fortune 500 corporate brands and the world’s top entertainment companies. The company’s core expertise encompasses marketing strategy and execution across all digital platforms via websites, social campaigns, viral activities, mobile apps, online media campaigns, video content production and PR stunts. Credits include ground-breaking digital campaigns for some of the highest grossing multiyear franchises including Fox’s Avatar, Marvel’s Avengers, Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games, Warner Bros.’ The Dark Knight, HBO’s Game of Thrones and many more. AvatarLabs has worked on six of the top ten highest grossing films of all time and has built a successful corporate portfolio with Fortune 500 companies including Mattel, American Greetings, Sony Corporation and Natori. For more information, please visit http://www.avatarlabs.com, or connect on Facebook and Twitter.